TerminaLink
TerminaLink | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | People mover | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operational | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini |
Terminal A (west) Terminal D / E (east) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening | May 24, 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Johnson Controls Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | Elevated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | 12 Bombardier Innovia APM 100 vehicles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. of tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | Third rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 30 mph (50 km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TerminaLink is a people mover system operating at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. The system is 0.7 miles (1.1 km) long,[1] and runs along the north side of the airport, beyond airport security.[2] The system serves all of the airport's five terminals, with four stations at Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, and International Terminal D/E, respectively. TerminaLink is one of two people movers currently operating at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The other people mover, known as the inter-terminal train, opened in 1969.
The system uses Bombardier Innovia APM 100 people mover vehicles,[1] which are powered from a 600-volt third rail.[3] There are a total of 12 vehicles in the system,[1] and each vehicle travels at 30 mph (50 km/h) and can hold up to 80 passengers.[4] The same type of vehicles are also found at Denver International Airport (Automated Guideway Transit System), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (The Plane Train), San Francisco International Airport (AirTrain), and Tampa International Airport.
History
The TerminaLink system opened on May 24, 1999[5] as a 0.1 mile (0.2 km) line with two stations, connecting Terminal C and Terminal B with a maintenance building for the rail vehicles between the two terminals. The system was funded by Continental Airlines at a cost of US $58 million, and was built to provide easy access between the airline's two airport terminals. Construction was completed in a total of 30 months[6] and was the last phase of Continental's US $200 million airport expansion project.[4]
In 2001, the system was expanded 0.6 mile (0.9 km) from Terminal C to Terminal D.[1] The electrical work for the expansion was supervised by TAG Electric Company who installed over 71 miles (114 km) of cables and wires for the project.[3]
The airport has expanded the line to Terminal A at a cost of US $100 million, and construction began in early 2008 and was completed in 2010.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Automated People Mover System – George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, USA". Bombardier Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ↑ Chandler, Jerome Greer (2005-12-08). "Living up to its Name: Houston Intercontinental". Official Airline Guide. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Projects and News". TAG Electric Company. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Albright, Max (1999-06-08). "Being direct". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ↑ "Continental Airlines Opens New Houston Monorail as Part of $200 Million Renovations". Continental Airlines. 1999-05-24. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ↑ "TerminaLink, High-Speed Automated People Mover". Spencer Partnership Architects. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ↑ Houston Airport System
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